Compare towns
Surry vs Saco vs Deer Isle
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Surry has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Saco has the most expensive homes ($413k median).
Deer Isle has the most people working from home (22%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Surry | Saco | Deer Isle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,836Lowest |
20,819Highest |
2,470 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+10.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.4±5.6 17% above ME |
44.9±1.5Lowest about the ME average |
52.6±5.6Highest 17% above ME |
| Deer Isle and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±3.7 ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.7%±3.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Saco and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.8%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Surry and Deer Isle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.1% ME: 36.2% |
43.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
35.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,508±$12k about the ME average |
$92,241±$11kHighest 23% above ME |
$62,284±$15kLowest 17% below ME |
| Saco and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,300±$36kLowest about the ME average |
$413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME |
$308,300±$42k 4% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $969±$129Lowest 15% below ME |
$1,249±$385 10% above ME |
$1,909±$927Highest 68% above ME |
| Deer Isle and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,903 37% below ME |
$4,807Highest 58% above ME |
$1,890Lowest 38% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±59.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
25.4%±17.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Surry and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 26% above ME |
24 min 3% below ME |
20 minLowest 17% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.4%±5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
22%±9.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Deer Isle and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #38 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Surry Public Schools | Saco Public Schools | Deer Isle-Stonington CSD |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Deer Isle-Stonington High Sch |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.0 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet |
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